15 books for St. Patrick’s Day: Read Alouds for Your March Lesson Plans
St. Patrick’s Day is upon us, and what better way to celebrate than by diving into a selection of books perfect for the occasion? Whether it’s setting the stage for a magical adventure with tales of leprechauns and far-off lands, constructing a whimsical leprechaun abode, or simply getting cozy with a captivating read, these books for St. Patrick’s Day promise to enchant and educate.
Below, we’ve compiled a list of 15 must-read St. Patrick’s Day books that will engage students and enhance their understanding of this vibrant holiday.
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St. Patrick’s Day Books for Elementary Classrooms
Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are – Dr. Seuss
Grade: K-4
“Just tell yourself, Duckie, you’re really quite lucky.”
Whimsical mastery by the master of whimsy. Every student will laugh at the crazy worlds Dr. Seuss introduces and thank their lucky stars they don’t live in them! A great read for young readers, and the rest of us, too!
At the End of the Rainbow – A.H. Benjamin
Grade: K-2
There is a treasure at the end of every rainbow, but what kind of treasure is it? As Badger and Fox, two friends on a treasure-hunting adventure, explore this colorful world, they discover that treasure means something different to everyone.
Will a rainy day ruin their chance to find their treasure, or will they finally find something more valuable along the way?
My Lucky Day – Keiki Kasza
Grade: Pre-K-3
It’s Fox’s lucky day when an absolutely scrumptious piglet knocks on his door by accident or is it?
Through amusing, lively illustrations, My Lucky Day tells a laugh-out-loud tale of a very gullible fox and a sly piglet that students will love! A story perfect for read-aloud time or personal reading time.
How to Catch a Leprechaun – Adam Wallace
Grade: K-5
How do you catch a leprechaun?
A mischievous leprechaun wreaks havoc throughout this colorful and lively book, evading traps children have designed. He taunts the reader on each page with one final question: Will a child finally design the perfect trap and catch him?
It is not only a fun, laugh-out-loud story but a great combination of STEAM learning to get creative minds engaged.
The Night Before St. Patrick’s Day – Natasha Wing
Grade: Prek-3
“Twas the night before St. Patrick’s, the day to wear green, not a creature was stirring, except Tim and Maureen.”
So begins a fun twist on Twas the Night Before Christmas. Two children set traps to catch a leprechaun. Are they successful this time?
Students will love this fun story and the colorful illustrations. Great for read-aloud time or individual reading.
St. Patrick’s Day in the Morning – Eve Bunting
Grade: K-3
Everyone loves to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, even little Jamie. He’s not about to let his family tell him he’s too small to march in the parade. He’ll prove to them he can do it.
Beautiful illustrations by Jan Brett make this read-aloud-perfect story come to life. Students will love this story of determination, confidence, and St. Patrick’s Day tradition.
Leprechaun in Late Winter (Magic Tree House #43) – Mary Pope Osborne
Grade: 2-5
Magic Tree House’s Jack and Annie are back for adventure when they are whisked away to long-ago Ireland. They need to inspire a young girl named Augusta to share her creativity with the world. In their attempts to help her, Augusta is trapped in a magical world. Can Jack and Annie save her?
Magic Tree House books are a favorite read of students, and this one does not disappoint. They’ll love the adventure and the introduction to Irish legends.
Fiona’s Luck – Teresa Bateman
Grade: 1-3
What if all the luck of Ireland suddenly stopped? Fear drives the king of the leprechauns to lock away all the luck in Ireland, and despair settles on all the land. It is up to a clever girl named Fiona to restore the magic to the land. Can she do it, or is she out of luck?
Beautiful illustrations add to the magic of this charming story. All the makings of a classic fairytale and a story students will love to read many times.
Patrick – Patron Saint of Ireland – Tomie dePaola
Grade: K-4
Who is St. Patrick? Tomie dePaola weaves a tale of Patrick’s history and legend to present the celebrated man in a way students will enjoy.
It is educational, beautifully illustrated, and written in an engaging style. This will become a favorite of students.
St. Patrick’s Day – Gail Gibbons
Grade: K-4
Is St. Patrick’s Day all about wearing green, trapping leprechauns, and finding gold? No? Then why do people celebrate it?
A fun, non-fiction look at the man behind the holiday. Full of history, legends, and beautiful illustrations. Students will love learning about the real St. Patrick.
Irish Fairy Tales (Dover Children’s Thrift Classics) – Philip Smith
Grade: 2-6
Eight wonderfully whimsical Irish folktales students will adore. Full of evil giants, leprechauns, old hags, and many other creatures, these stories will be a read-aloud favorite in the classroom.
Beautiful illustrations bring the stories to life and add to the charm and magic woven in these tales. A must-have for St. Patrick’s Day.
That’s What Leprechauns Do – Eve Bunting
Grade: PreK-3
Three leprechauns have a job to do: place the pot of gold at the end of the coming rainbow. They have no time for mischief along the way, but can they resist?
A fun story combined with brilliant illustrations makes this a great read for St. Patrick’s Day. Students will laugh at the leprechauns’ antics and love to hear this story again and again.
The Luckiest St. Patrick’s Day Ever – Teddy Slater
Grade: PreK-3
Who better to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with than a leprechaun family? Join the parade, join the dancing, join the feast! You won’t be disappointed, and neither will your students.
Lively rhymes are woven throughout brilliant and colorful illustrations. This will put a heart of celebration into your read-aloud time, perfect for St. Patrick’s Day.
Tim O’Toole and the Wee Folk – Gerald McDermott
Grade: K-3
Poor Tim O’Toole, what is he to do? After he sets off to find work and feed his family, he discovers leprechauns. The generous wee folk give him gifts to help his family, but can Tim keep hold of the gifts? Will his greedy neighbors make sure he doesn’t?
A charming story coupled with expressive and magical illustrations, Tim O’Toole and the Wee Folk will delight students during read-aloud or individual reading time. A wonderful addition to any St. Patrick’s Day reading list.
Imagination Station: Challenge on the Hill of Fire – Marianne Hering and Nancy I. Sanders
Grade: 1 – 5
Imagination Station’s Patrick and Beth find themselves captured by Celtic Druids in 433 A.D., rescued by a former slave named Patritius, and stuck in the middle of a challenge to find out if the God of the Bible is real. Can they survive the Hill of Fire?
A great addition to the Imagination Station series, Challenge on the Hill of Fire will engross students in the adventure and teach them about the life of St. Patrick.
Note: This book does focus on Christianity. If you’re at a public school, review it before reading it with your students.
A List of all 15 St. Patrick’s Day Books in One Place
- Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are – Dr. Seuss
- At the End of the Rainbow – A.H. Benjamin
- My Lucky Day – Keiki Kasza
- How to Catch a Leprechaun – Adam Wallace
- The Night Before St. Patrick’s Day – Natasha Wing
- St. Patrick’s Day in the Morning – Eve Bunting
- Leprechaun in Late Winter (Magic Tree House #43) – Mary Pope Osborne
- Fiona’s Luck – Teresa Bateman
- Patrick – Patron Saint of Ireland – Tomie dePaola
- St. Patrick’s Day – Gail Gibbons
- Irish Fairy Tales (Dover Children’s Thrift Classics) – Philip Smith
- That’s What Leprechauns Do – Eve Bunting
- The Luckiest St. Patrick’s Day Ever – Teddy Slater
- Tim O’Toole and the Wee Folk – Gerald McDermott
- Imagination Station: Challenge on the Hill of Fire – Marianne Hering and Nancy I. Sanders
More St. Patrick’s Day Resources
I have a fun St. Patrick’s Day Craftivity that is a fun activity to engage students in thinking about why they are “lucky.” This is one of my favorite craft projects to do with my students because it focuses on self-reflection and appreciation.
Are you interested in even more St. Patrick’s Day Resources? This blog post has some more fun FREE ideas for you!
It has ideas for different subject areas, including reading, math, and science, and links to other teacher bloggers with great ways to celebrate this holiday.
Jessica BOschen
Jessica is a teacher, homeschool parent, and entrepreneur. She shares her passion for teaching and education on What I Have Learned. Jessica has 16 years of experience teaching elementary school and currently homeschools her two middle and high school boys. She enjoys scaffolding learning for students, focusing on helping our most challenging learners achieve success in all academic areas.